The City of North Battleford, the Town of Battleford and the province are sharing the cost to purchase a new handi-bus to meet the need.(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

New Handi-Bus

City, town, province to fund cost for new handi-bus

Jul 16, 2019 | 12:10 PM

The city and town have got on board with a request to help purchase a new handi-bus to serve people with disabilities in the communities.

Lawmakers each gave a thumbs up at their respective meetings Monday by agreeing to fork over some funds.

Battlefords Transit was approved by the province for up to 75 per cent of the cost of the vehicle through the Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities (TAPD) capital grant program, for a maximum of $55,000.

To cover the estimated $110,000 cost of the handi-bus, Transit Manager Paul Robertson needed the city and town to help with the outstanding amount. The new bus is needed, he said, to keep the fleet whole as he lacks backup vehicles for when one is out of commission.

Further adding to the necessity for a new bus is the potential to acquire a contract to supply rides for the Saskatchewan Hospital.

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Robertson said it could net the operation an additional $40,000 a year in revenue. The new guests would add to the eligible ridership, resulting in a larger provincial operating grant from the Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities (TAPD) fund and lessen the amount of money he asks for each year from council. He said the TAPD grant could rise from just under $45,000 to around $53,000 or even $60,000.

Both council’s were pitched on the idea of a 70/30 split of the remaining balance between North Battleford and Battleford, respectively. City lawmakers agreed to give about $39,900 and the town ponied up the requested $16,500.

The handi-bus serves both communities and can be modified to act as a transit bus when required.

The city portion of the funding will come from its additional gas tax money while the town is using money it saved while purchasing a one tonne truck.

“This is a priority,” said City Manager Randy Patrick of the purchase. “It’s important we provide that service.”

Mayor Ryan Bater said it is a “rare opportunity” for three governments – the city, town and province – to work together to “contribute to a needed asset in the community.”

Bater added the demand for the service is “very high.”

In Battleford, lawmakers were quick to get behind the ask, especially given the money was not coming from reserves.

“It is an urgent need and it helps the residents of our community,” Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais said.

Calls were made during discussion to perhaps freshen up the transit funding agreement the city and town have and to ensure money is being set aside for new capital purchases every seven or eight years as to not make asking for large sums of money a habit.

After the meeting, Mayor Ames Leslie said some work still needs to be done on the file, but said council would have been remised to not step up and help.

“It is unfortunate that some proper planning and budgeting wasn’t done to be able to cover the bus like they have in the past,” he said.

The town, he said, is not in the game to support the private sector, and compared the situation to the now defunct provincial Saskatchewan Transportation Company.

“If the user fees aren’t covering a majority of you cost to run your operation should the government offset that,” he said. “Some people would say yes some people would say no but in this situation we feel to have the service continue we feel we need to step up and support it at this time.”

— with files from Tyler Marr

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @OCoureurDesBois